Steam-heating system.



PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

' L. S. BURBANK.

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

' APPLIUATION FILED MAY 31. 1904.

No. 785,191. 1 PATENTED MAR. 21,1905. I

L. s. BURBANK. STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 31. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Iatented March 21, 1905.

STEAM-HEATING SYSTEM.

gPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nlo. 785,194, dated March21, 1905.

Application filed May 31.1904. Serial No. 210,521. I i

To all whrmt if; Duty concern:

Be it known that l, LOUIS S. Bunnsuma citizen of the United States,residing at \Vorcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts. have invented a new and uselowing is a spccification.

This invention relates to steam-heating systems which are employed forheating buildings and for other purposes.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a heating systemwith means for automatically exhausting air from the radiators and forthe'circulMing-passages.

To this end this invention consists of the heating system and of thecombinations of parts therein, as hereinafter described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatieview, partly insection, of suflicientparts of a steam-heating system to illustrate theapplication of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalview showing a form of inspirator which: may be employed for using theenergy of the returning stream of Water for exhausting air from thesystem. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of part of a steam-heating system,illustrating a modified construction. Fig. 4 is a detail view of amercury-trap which. may be used in the overflow pipe. Fig. 5 representsaperspective view of a portion of the apparatus, showing a;plurality ofinjectors; and Figuti is 21' diagrammatic view showing separatereturnpipes for different doors of a building.

The efficiency of steam-heating systems depends in a great measure uponthe exclusion of air from the radiators and from thecirculating-passages. This is particularly true of the single-pipesteam-heatingsystems, which ope-rate at comparatively lcw pressures;

In an ordinary singlerpipe steam-heating system the steam is admitted atone end of a radiator, and when a considerable volume of airis trappedor confined by the steam at the other end of the radiator it forms, ineifect, a

the desired operation. To overcome this Ohjection, different forms ofair-valves have been employed, and in some systems it has been proposedto connect the air-valves to a com- -mon pipe. ful SteanrlieatingSystem, of which the fol- This invention relates to a steam-heatingsystem having the radiators connected to an air exhaust passage. r

The especial object of this invention is to utilize part of thecirculating energy of the boiler to create positive suction in theairexhausting passage. This is done by utilizing theflow of the streamof water returning to the boiler to produce a suction orexhaustingaction.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detail description of asteam-heating system constructed according to this invention, Adesignates the boiler.

As herein illustrated the boiler A is of a type commonly employed forheating dwelling-houses and is provided with a damperregulator 10, asteam-gage 11, and a waterglass 12. Extending up from the boiler A is asteampipe 13, which connects to a riser 14, which supplies the radiatorsR with steam and through which pipe the water of condensation returns,as in the ordinarysingle-p'ipe steam-heating systems. Extending downfrom the riser14 is a return-pipe 15, which returnrpipe 15'is restrictedor choked to maintain a head of water therein, as shown at WV.

At the opposite end from its steam-pipe each of the radiators isconnected to an ai r pipe '16, all of said air-pipespreferably'connecting ing or condensing coil C and is connected to .9 Inthe construction illustrated in Fig; 1 the -air exhausting pipe 17 isprovided with a coolthe casing of an inspirator which is located in thereturn-pipe 15. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, this inspirator 18comprises cooperdead-airspacediminishingthe heating-surface l atinginjector-nozzles, and the air-exhausting. of the radiator and seriouslyinterfering with pipe 17 is so connected to the casing of the lected atthe top of the air-escape pipe 19 to returning water to the boilerwhenever the valveand a number of blow-out and shut-oti' inspirator thatthe stream of water passing through the nozzles will serve to create aposi- 1 tive suction in the air-exhausting pipe 17.

Connected to theireturn-pipe, between the air-exhausting pipe 17 and theboiler, is an air-escape pipe 19. The stream of water is preferablyadmitted at an intermediate'point'i in the air-escape pipe 19 by meansof a fixture 5 containing openings or windows 0, through which theaction of the stream of water in exhausting'air can be observed.

By the use of an air-escape pipe 19 of considerable height and byintroducing the mixed stream of air and water from the inspirator g nearthe center of the water-column ample opi portunity will be given fortheair to escape 5 up through the top of the pipe 19 instead ofbeing-carried along with the stream of water on its way back to theboiler.

Mounted in the upper end of the air-escape E pipe 19 is a float 22,carrying valves V and V. When the water is at its normal level in theair-escape pipe 19, the valves V and V will be opened, permitting a freeescape of air from the top of. the pipe. When the water rises, the valveV will be closed, preventing i .the oyerflow of water from the top ofthe air-' escape pipe 19. The valve V will remain closed until asufficient amount of air is colpermit the float to fall. 'When the float22 falls to an abnormally low position--for example, at night, whenthere is very little, if any, fire maintained and there is a tendency tocreate a vacuum in the boiler itself from the condensation of steam-thevalve V will close, which will prevent the vacuum in the boilerfrom-drawing the water back, so that air could be drawn into theair-escape pipe 19. In some cases afor example, in very coldweather--steam may condense in the radiators more. rapidly than the samecan flowback to the boiler through the return-pipe 15. To prevent-thesystem from flooding when this takes place, I provide an overflow-pipe 21 for same rises above the desired hei ht in the ordinary return-pipe15. Y In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a'boiler check valves which may beemployed for cutting off the several pipes and passages and by means ofwhich the various pipes and passages may be cleaned out when required.It is to be understood, however, that such valves are not essential andmay be differently located, according to the judgment of the engineerinstalling the 'plant. 4 1 In the operation of the steam-heating systemas a whole it will be seen that the flow of the strean'i olwaterreturning to the boiler is utilized to create suction in theair-exhausting passage. This will remove air from the radiators andthe'steanrheating passages of the entire system suiiicicntly to. preventthe radiators from becoming air-bound, and in addition to this thissuction will .tend to thecreation ot'a vacuum, whereby the entire systemmay he successfully operated at pressures even below that of theatmosphere. I

In some cases instead of employingthe usual form of inspirator' the 'ah-exhausting passage maybe connected into the return-pipe at such a pointthat the flow of the stream of 5 water will create a suction inthe-air-exhaust- 1 ing passage by means of an action similar to that inan ordinary mercury-pump. In some cases also it is not necessary to usean overflow-plpe' above the normal level of the water.

. A system embodying these' modifications is illustrated in Figs. 3 and4:.

This pipe 26 is located in such position with respect to the water-levelthat the flow of water down the return-pipe 15 will draw in bubbles orbodies of air, which will be carried along with the flowing stream ofwaj ter in the same manner that 'air may be exhausted by the movement ofa column of mercury forexample-such used in exhausting air fromelectric-light bulbs. In Fig. 3, also, instead of having anoverflow-pipe 24 I may employ an overflow-pipe 24:0, controlled by amercury-trap T or any other back-pressure valve.

As shown in Fig. 4, the mercury-trap '1 comprises an inlet-passage 27,which extends down into a body of mercury 28. When the head of water inthe return-pipe rises high enough to create pressure in the passage 27sufiicient to displace the mercury, so that the same will be pushed outinto the expanded chamber 29, the water will be permitted to return tothe boiler through the return-pipe 240, and this construction permits meto maintain a considerable head of water in the returnpipe without theuse of an elevated overflow,- pipe.

By experiment I have found that the efficiency of the exhausting actionis dependent to a considerable extent upon the head of water maintainedin the return-pipe, and in order thatI may maintain a head of waterextending up through two or more stories of a buildingI mayiit'dcsired,supply the radiators of the first floor or of any number'of the lowerfloors with separate steam-risers and may use the flow of water inareturn-p1pe going to subdivided.

eral floors are separate return-pipes P. P, and P, 1n.which thereturning water of condensation can be maintained at difierentlevels.The air-pipes from the several radiators are connected to be exhaustedby the inspirators of the returning streams of water, the severalinspirators having a combined pumping effect for one common exhaustsystem. In this construction also the pumping action may be strongenough to exhaust a trapped return from a radiator B, so that the samewill be operated on a levelwith or below the level of the boiler A.

In some heating systems-for example, such as are operated underpressure-it has been proposed to use one or more injectors to assist thecirculation of the heating medium. As distinguished from this, however,my invention results in the use of the flow of the stream of waterreturning to the boiler to exhaust the air from the circulating pipesand radiators.

In case the air-escape pipe 19 is'extended upwardly twenty feet, more orless, above the water-level in the b0iler,-s0 that the column of watertherein will'act against the boilerpressure and prevent the escape ofwater through said air-escape pipe, the valve-V may be omitted.-

In case the air-escape pipeis extended upwardly, as last described, thereturn-pipe is extended downwardly, as indicated at 2O 21, Fig. 3,thirty feet, more or less, below the water-level in the boiler, so thatthe column of water in the return-pipe below said level will beunaflected by any vacuum that may exist in the boiler. The valve Vand'float 2'2 mayalso be omitted. I

In Fig. 5 I show a plurality of inspirators 1 80, each of which may be aduplicate of the inspirato'r 18, above described. These are connectedwith the return-pipe 15 and with the air-exhausting pipe 17, as shown,so that the currents of. return-water -and exhaust-air are Thissubdivision results in a greater efiiciency of operation under certainconditions. I I

I do not wish to be limited to any particular arrangement of parts ordetails of construction; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is"

1. In a steam-heating system, the combination ofa boiler supplying steamto radiators, a

air-exhausting passage connected with the return-pi pe to utilize theenergy of the returning water of condensation to exhaust air from theradiators.

3. In a steam-heating system, the combinareturn-pipe havinga head ofwaterfmaintained ,therein, and an 'airrexhausting passageconinected tothe return pipe below thewaterlevel, whereby the energy of the returnstream;

, tion of a boiler supplying steanitoj'adiators, a \m oi water willcreate suction in the air-exhaust ing passage.

4. in a steam-heating system, the combination of a boiler supplyingsteam to radiators, a return-pipehaving a head of water, maintainedtherein. ar'iair-ex-hausting passage connecting to the return pipe belowthe water level, whereby the energyof the-return stream of water willcreate station in theair-exhausting passage, and an air-outlet pipeopening from the "return-pipe between the air-exhausting passage and theboiler.

5. In a steam-heating system, the combination oi a boiler supplyingsteam to radiators, a

return-pipe having a head of water maintained therein, an injector inthe return-pipe below,

the water-level, and an air-exhausting passage connected ,to the inectoncaslng, whereby the energy of the returning stream of water Wlllcreate suction in the air-exhausting passage.

v,6. In a steam-heating system, the combination'of a boiler supplyingsteam to radiators, a return-pipe having a head of water maintainedtherein, an injector in the return-pipe below the water-leveLanair-exhausting passagecpnnected to the injector-casing, whereby theenergy of the. returning stream of. water will create suction-in theair-exhausting passage, and an air-outlet pipe opening from thereturnpipebetween the injector and the boiler.

7 In a steam-heating system, the com'bination of a boiler supplyingsteam toradiators, a return-pipe having a head of Water maintainedtherein, an air-exhausting passage connected to the returnpipebelow thewater-level,

whereby the energy of the returning stream of water will create suctionin the air-exhausting passage, and an overflow-pipe for returningsurplus water of condensation to the boiler i its will. create suctionin the airexhausting passage, and an overflow-pipe connected to thereturn-pipe above the normal level of Water therein for returningsurplus water of condensation to the boiler to prevent the system fromflooding.

9. In a steam-heating system, the combination of aboiler supplying steamto radiators, a

returnpipe havinga head of water maintained therein, an injector in thereturn-pipe below the water-level, an air-exhausting passage 0on neetedto the injector-casing, whereby the energy of the returning stream ofwater will create suction'in the air-exhausting passage,-

an air-outlet pipe between the injector and i the boiler, and afloat-valve for closing the from theradiators, said passage having meansfor cooling its contents.

11. In a steam-heating system, theeombination of a lioilersupplyingsteam'to radiators, a return-pipe for water of condensation, anair-exhausting passage connected with the return-pipe to utilize theenergy of the re-:

turning water of condensation -to exhaust'iai from the radiatdrsand anair-outlet extending upwardly from the return-pip'ebe tween theairexhausting passage andthe boiler.

12. In a steam-heating system, the COI'Ilbt nation of a boiler supplyingsteam 'to. radia my handin the presence of two'subseribing tors, areturn-pipe for water of condensation, an air-exhausting passageconnected with the return-pipe to utilize the energy of there turningwater of condensation -to exhaust air from the radiators, anair-outletextending upthe wardly, anda float-valve for controlling upperend of the air-outlet.

13. In a steam-heating system, the combireturn-pipe to utilize theenergy of the returning water of condensation to exhaust airfrom theradiators, an airroutlet extending upwardly, and a float in saidair-outlet havinga downwardly-closing valve, the said. return- .pipehaving a downward extension below the water-level in the boiler.

In a steam-heating system, the combition of a boiler supplying steam toradiators. a return-pipe having a head of water maintained therein, apluralityof injectors in gthe'; return-pipe below'the water-level, and a"bran'ehedair-exhausting passage connected to the in jector-casings.

In'testimony whereof l have hereunto set witnesses. LOUIS s. BURBANK.

Witnesses:

Louis W. Sonrnearn,

PHlLIP W. SOUTHGATE.

an air-exhausting passage connected with the

